The Cardinals have done an excellent job making Albert Pujols the marketing focus of this summer’s All-Star game in St. Louis.  Giant posters of him are plastered all around the stadium and he will most certainly represent the Cardinals with class and excellence during both the Home Run Derby and the game itself. 

But as far as pre-game festivities are concerned, this game should not be about him or any of baseball’s other superstars.  If the pageantry before the game must focus on a single player, there is really just one man to choose. 

Stan Musial. 

Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt III said today he hopes Musial can make it to the game and participate in pregame activities if he feels up to it at age 88. 

Here’s hoping he can.

Musial deserves the kind of reception Ted Williams received when the Red Sox hosted the All-Star game in 1999.  It was special to see the All-Stars gather around his golf cart, telling him what he meant to the game. 

‘Stan the Man’ deserves such an honor.  Like Williams, he is probably one of the ten greatest outfielders of all time. 

Unfortunately for Musial, he is likely the most underrated player of all time.  Whenever a conversation about the best players arises, he is rarely mentioned.  And if there were a list of the kindest people to ever play the game, you can bet he would be near the top of it too. 

Musial’s numbers are mind-boggling.  

Over his 22 season career, Musial had .331 average to go along with a whopping 3,360 hits.  He just missed joining the 500 home run club – Musial had 475. 

In fact he probably would have had those 500 home runs if he didn’t miss the 1945 season to serve his country in WWII. 

Musial was the National League MVP three times.  Perhaps most impressive, he batted .330 with 18 in home runs in 1960 at age 42. 

No steroids required. 

This is quite likely to be the last opportunity for Musial to be in the national spotlight.  It’s the last chance for the average baseball fan to learn what a terrific player Stan was.

Musial was a gamer.  Hopefully he can make it to the ballpark one last time.